Chapter 13

thirteen

N OT EVEN A day had passed since Perry had bought the Star Maiden, but he was already infatuated with the painting. More than infatuated. Obsessed. Which surprised him.

He’d purchased it only to protect Edith’s honour, but now that the Star Maiden hung on the wall of his personal parlour, he found himself charmed by it, utterly mesmerised.

Mr. Valentine Carter was a true artist. His strokes could be both light and strong, depending on the effect he wanted to achieve. He brought out Edith’s delicate beauty and caught the perfect shade of her forest-green eyes. Impressive. The more Perry looked at Astrea, the more it seemed she swayed her hips and smiled in a coquettish manner.

Of course, the fact Mr. Carter had seen Edith in that ridiculously transparent gown, tunic, or whatever the flimsy thing was didn’t escape his notice.

He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Annoyed, perhaps. Envious, for sure.

The painting belonged to him, and only he would enjoy it. A set of curtains would protect it from prying eyes when he wasn’t in the room. He’d instructed his servants not to peek under the curtains under the pain of being dismissed from his service.

Edith herself was a work of art as a woman. Her lines were delicate and stunning at the same time. The flare of her hips seemed so real he believed he could touch it, feel the warmth of her skin, or smell her fresh scent.

An urgent knock distracted him. “My lord.”

He tugged at the rope and covered the painting. “Come in.”

“My lord.” The butler pushed the door open and bowed. “Lady Lancaster and her sister, Miss Winkworth, are here to see you. They said it’s urgent.”

“I’ll receive them in the sitting room, thank you.” He could bet the sudden, unannounced visit had to do with the Star Maiden.

He found the two sisters pacing in the sitting room. Lady Lancaster paced clockwise. Edith paced anti-clockwise. That surely revealed something about the two sisters, but he wouldn’t guess what.

“Lady Lancaster, Edith.”

“Ravenscroft.” Lady Lancaster bowed her head. “Apologies for the intrusion.”

Edith greeted him, too, but her gesture was less deep and more guarded than her sister’s.

“Thank you for seeing us, even if we didn’t send a card.” Lady Lancaster tormented her hands while Edith pressed her lips in a hard line.

He gestured at the armchairs. “Please, take a seat and tell me what the matter is.”

Lady Lancaster perched on the edge of the sofa. Edith sat next to her with her hands folded on her lap.

“We won’t take too much of your time, so we’ll go straight to the point.” Lady Lancaster nudged Edith with her elbow.

Edith cleared her throat, her gaze on her hands. “We’re aware of the fact you came into possession of a certain painting.” She finally gazed up at him. “I’m sure you know what I’m referring to.”

Oh, he knew very well. “The last time we met, we had a conversation. I’m sure you know what I’m referring to.”

Lady Lancaster shifted her gaze from Edith to Perry. “The last time? What is His Lordship talking about?”

Edith ignored her. “This is different. That painting shouldn’t have been sold. Mr. Carter is a friend of mine. He promised me the painting wouldn’t leave his atelier. That was the deal we made for me to agree to pose.”

He propped his elbow on the mantelpiece. “I’m sorry to hear that one of your friends lied to you. But yes, I purchased the painting from the gallery.”

“I mean to buy the painting,” Lady Lancaster said. “Whatever you paid for it, I’ll give you that sum and more. Edith and I are ready to do anything to avoid a scandal.”

“And I’ll repay you, Marianne,” Edith said with determination. “Not just for today, but for all the times you helped me. I swear it.”

“All the times? What does that mean?” he asked no one in particular.

Edith stared at him as if begging him not to say more.

Lady Lancaster sniffled. “Edith is a very energetic young woman who is going through a difficult moment, and there were times when she went astray.”

“Went astray,” he said under his breath.

Edith sank her teeth into her bottom lip. The two sisters stared at each other as the air charged with tension.

“I have to say the painting is stunning,” he said. “Mr. Carter is a great artist but a gambler. Rumour has it, he had to sell his goddesses to pay his creditors. Anyway, I bought the Star Maiden because I was worried about Edith’s reputation.”

Edith blushed. “Thank you.”

“What a relief.” Lady Lancaster exhaled.

“Besides, now that Edith is a doctor of medicine, she ought to be careful about how she spends her free time,” Perry said, “and about the company she keeps.”

Lady Lancaster angled towards her sister. “I don’t understand. A doctor?”

Edith grimaced. She tried to speak a couple of times, but not a word came out.

“What is it?” he asked.

Lady Lancaster nudged Edith again. “Please. Explain.”

Edith took a deep breath. “Perry, what I tried to tell you without success the other night is that I’m not a doctor. I never went to medical school. I lied in my letters.” Each word came out with effort as if she forced herself. “I lied to you.”

Perry took a moment to understand what she said. “You didn’t go to the London School of Medicine for Women?”

Lady Lancaster’s eyes widened. “Heavens.”

Edith shook her head, her facial muscles tensing.

A moment of thick silence stretched as Perry mulled over her confession . She wasn’t a doctor.

He didn’t understand. “Why lie?”

“Because I didn’t want you to think I was a failure,” she said.

“Oh, Edith.” Lady Lancaster pressed a finger to her temple.

“And lying was a better option?” He couldn’t believe it. All that time, he’d admired Edith for her strength and resilience in studying for years, and it was all a lie.

“I’m sorry. Lying in a letter was all too easy. It was like writing my personal diary and writing about my dreams. It felt so liberating to put my dreams on paper.” Her words came out softly, but the truth in them roared. “I know it doesn’t make sense to you, but writing those letters made me feel better, and once I started lying, I couldn’t stop. One lie pulled forth another, and the dream was too beautiful. The more time passed, the harder it was to tell the truth.” She spoke faster now, the words tripping over each other. “At least there was someone, you, who didn’t think I was a disappointment. But studying was too hard for me after the accident. I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t breathe when I picked up a book. Thinking about memorising names and facts was too overwhelming for me. It was a curse. The books I so adored were now my enemies. The harder I tried to study, the harder I wanted to run away.” She swallowed hard, taking deep breaths.

“I had no idea.” Lady Lancaster shook her head.

He ran a hand over his face. A combination of opposing feelings battled inside him. There was frustration, disbelief, and a healthy dose of sorrow for her. Edith’s lies, combined with her behaviour in the Scarlet Room and the painting, displayed a rather worrying situation.

He handed her his handkerchief. “Here.”

She didn’t gaze up when she took it. “When I wrote those letters, I felt different as if I were someone who mattered.”

“You do matter,” he said, his heart aching for her. “A lot.”

“I had no idea you still dreamed of becoming a doctor. If you want to study, why don’t you start again?” Lady Lancaster said.

“It’s too late.” Edith wiped her face. “I’m not sure I can start studying again.”

“It’s not too late,” Perry said.

“I’m sorry. I know I have no excuses.” Shaking, she straightened. “I lost control of my lies and of my life.”

Bloody hell. He needed to think about the revelation. He hated to admit he was deeply disappointed and felt like a fool.

The fire crackling in the hearth was the only sound for a few intense minutes.

“I’ll make amends,” she said with a determination that reminded him of the Edith he knew.

“I won’t show the painting to anyone,” he said.

“I know. I trust you. But I ought to take my responsibilities, and I’ll start immediately.” She bowed her head. “Thank you for your kindness, Perry. Marianne, shall we leave now? Please?”

“Of course. Thank you, Ravenscroft.” Lady Lancaster seemed on the verge of bursting out crying as well. “At least we know the painting is safe with you.”

He wished Edith’s heart was safe from breaking.